The Utah Board of Water Resources voted to commit up to $999,000—85% of the project cost—for the Davis and Weber Counties Canal Company to replace a deteriorating dual-steel riveted penstock and repair associated open-channel discharge structures, with repayment at 0% interest over 20 years.

Tom Cox, presenting for staff, told the board the penstock—two riveted steel pipelines installed about 1910—has corroded and the concrete foundations have deteriorated. The penstock is used to discharge water from the Davis Weber Canal to the Weber River; without repairs staff said there is risk of failure when discharge is required. The proposed work replaces the steel pipeline with HDPE pipe and improves open-channel portions of the discharge.

Cox said the project will not conserve water or increase the company’s revenues because it is a discharge structure; staff therefore recommended funding from the revolving construction fund at 0% interest. The board motion commits 85% of project cost up to $999,000 with annual payments of roughly $50,000 over 20 years.

Rick Smith, representing the canal company, thanked the board and said the district has invested extensively in system upgrades since the 1999 breach. The board approved the motion unanimously. The motion was offered by a board member and seconded; the board recorded the motion as passed by unanimous vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize contracting and monitor construction activity under standard reporting requirements.